Oladapo Afolayan known as ‘Dapo’ as he likes to be known joined West Ham from non-league club Solihull Moors on transfer deadline day in January 2018 for a nominal fee on a three-and-a-half-year contract. The Harrow-born striker attended Chelsea’s Academy as a youngster after turning down Arsenal, he spent six years at Chelsea alongside the likes of Tammy Abraham and Dominic Solanke, before, as a 15-year-old, his family moved to Canada, where he continued his footballing education with Toronto FC, featuring for their reserve team.
On returning to England at the age of 18, Afolayan began studying for a civil engineering degree at Loughborough University before being snapped up by National League club Solihull in 2017, for whom he scored 16 goals in 38 matches. Afolayan also spent time as one of 42 non-league players at the Jamie Vardy V9 Football Academy in Manchester.
The powerful forward made his Hammers debut in a 1-0 Premier League 2 Division 1 defeat at home to Sunderland in February 2018, Afolayan appeared in West Ham United’s opening four Premier League 2 Division 1 fixtures of the season, scoring his first goal against Manchester City in August 2018.
In January 2019, he joined EFL League Two club Oldham Athletic on loan until the end of the 2018/19 season, making his EFL debut and nine further appearances in League Two, before enjoying a similar six-month spell at Mansfield at the start of 2019/20, scoring one goal in six league games.
Afolayan returned to West Ham United in January 2020 and completed their unbeaten Premier League 2 Division 2 season with five goals in nine games to his name, including an impressive brace in the Hammers’ first-ever Premier League International Cup quarter-final: a 3-3 draw at Derby County, eventually won 6-5 on penalty kicks.
The boyhood Arsenal fan describes his idols as Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg were when he was younger. He grew up in North London and dyed his hair red for his seventh birthday.
Last night 23-yar-old ‘Dapo’ made his senior debut for West Ham, appearing as a substitute and scoring in a 4–0 FA Cup win against Doncaster Rovers.
A fantastic debut. Thanks for the brief history. This is exactly the sort of guy we need – shades of Declan there with the Chelsea connection. It annoyed me that reports said he had a ‘tap-in’. His shot was hit with power and there have been plenty of experienced first-teamers who could have blasted that over the bar or wide of the post. Our goal difference needs improving and findng someone who knows how to find the target is a priority. Well done Dapo – more please 🙂
Agree entirely Spotted Dog it was a good appearance, he moved well and his timing and anticipation for his goal were terrific. A strikers instinct to follow up in the 6 yard box ain’t a ‘tap in’ – he earned it.
I have been informed by people of Yoruba origin that “Ola” or “Olu” refers to God – so the shortened form of first names is the second part of their name hence “Dapo”
Let us hope that he has a successful career with us – Moyes has shown the willingness to give academy players a chance (Ngakia, Ben Johnson, Mipo and now the three boys yesterday).
Despite failing to sign a striker I think things are looking up at the Hammers